Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

[NoKlu]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

Savage makes a left hand youth bolt action .22 with a 10 shot clip for $225.

 

[dave11]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

Shooting is a great bonding experience. I would look for a decent 22LR in a bolt with iron sights and a so-so wooden stock. Doing a stock refinish will heighten the learning and save Dad a few bucks.

X2 A nice bolt action will be good for learning marksmanship.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

My first gun, after the BB rifle, was a Savage model 24. A single shot .22/410 over/under combo. My friends all had .22 semis and would spray the woods with lead every time they saw a squirrel. That single shot forced me to take my time and wait for the best shot. If I missed with the .22 I could quickly switch over to the 410. It liked CCI MiniMag hollow points the best.

Man I miss hunting with those guys.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

Like most people said a 22 is a good starting place. Shooting for kids is good because it teaches them how to be patient, calm and focused. One thing i would like to add don't put a scope on the rifle. Make him learn with open sights. You as an avid marksman would know why i am saying that.

Hope he takes to it

 

[A Potts]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

You may want to check your states hunting rules if hunting is your goal in the fall. My state does not allow deer hunting with rim fire ammunition. Your state may be different, but it will give you something to think about as your son progresses in his ability.

A. Potts

 

[v1_0]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

The big thing is making sure that the rifle 'fits'.

I've had my daughters shoot my 12ga (with "popper" rounds, earmuffs, and a lot of help/support from me), and a .22 - with just supervision (no holding the rifle, as with the shotgun) from me.

The thing is that they can't really hold onto the 22 rifle well enough to be comfortable with it. It's not child sized.

 

[Viking...]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

When I was a young fella, my dad gave me his .22 target rifle which had won many competitions.
I still have it.
Single shot, bolt action.
You learn to make every shot count, and I would highly recommend the same or similar.

It was a 1966 Anschutz .22 target rifle with peep sights, still uber accurate.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

My 2nd love in life..firearms.....
I have to strongly agree with single shot 22...
My first rifle was a Marlin bolt action (but 22 mag) too $$$ on ammo compared to standard 22's..

I have owned other 22's that would be ideal starting rifles...
I inherited an Ithica youth model 22 single shot lever action from my Uncle when he passed away...Had a breech that drop open on the down stroke, you slide the shell into the chamber, closed the breech on the up stroke and THEN manually cocked the exposed hammer..No Rifleman John Conners semi auto there!

Slow, precise, thought & safety driven..I would NOT recomend the ruger 10/22 as much as I love em...weight may or not be an issue, but one slip of the finger and a second round is going somewhere he didnt mean to!

Or if I did use a semi auto..it would be clip feed with one round sessions (many) before 2 rounds were loaded...Then 3...(at 3 rounds you teach em the rampart drill..2 to the chest, one to the head!)


Hands down the most accurate rifle I have ever owned is my 1936 vintage Remington single shot 22 bolt targetmaster with a 22 inch barrel..

The singleshots also let you go from the BB gun to 22 short, long and then LR as well (afterthought there)

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

The big thing is making sure that the rifle 'fits'.

I've had my daughters shoot my 12ga (with "popper" rounds, earmuffs, and a lot of help/support from me), and a .22 - with just supervision (no holding the rifle, as with the shotgun) from me.

The thing is that they can't really hold onto the 22 rifle well enough to be comfortable with it. It's not child sized.

There is a single shot bolt action "youth rifle out there..The Cricket..They even have a pink girls youth model..

 

[aspeck]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

There is a single shot bolt action "youth rifle out there..The Cricket..They even have a pink girls youth model..

That is what my daughter wanted ... only she want her Davey Cricket with the grey laminate ... because it matches the .223 Ruger M77S her Daddy has and she has her eyes on as the next gun for her as she goes up the chain.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

When i was 10 i was shhoting a semi auto .22 and a 410

Same here... .410 gauge/.22 double-barrel over-under got me started hunting partridge and other small game and a .22 rifle got my shooting eye going. It seemed to work since I got my first deer(button buck) at age 14 with a .308

Kudos to teaching the younger generations the art of shooting. My sons are 3 and 1 so I have a few years to go.

 

[v1_0]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

There is a single shot bolt action "youth rifle out there..The Cricket..They even have a pink girls youth model..

Oh... I can hear the conversation now.

"Daddy, I can't go shooting until I get the laundry done."
"Well, I can talk to mommy and ask her if you can do that later".
"No...No... Mommy didn't ask me to... All my pink outfits are in the wash and I don't have anything to wear that will match the rifle."

Then, there would be the whole "You like my sister better because her favorite color is pink, and you got a pink rifle" one.

Nope. I'll stick to "rifle color". There are times when matching colors is good, and other times when it isn't. I don't want to encourage a fashion show at the gun range...

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

yeah well...
I bought my other half Diane a pink fishing pole..man what have i gotten into?

 

[Susquehanna Squid]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

I started with a .243 mohawk and layed down plenty of deer with it. Doesn't really "kick" and shoots great. Now I use a .308 (since I was 15) and will never use another caliber again. The over/under 20 gauge is great too, I have one with a .222 on top. By the way, it is great to see a another father teaching his son how to use a firearm. God Bless America!

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Son(10) ready to start shooting, which rifle?

He did GREAT! Started with BB gun(my old pump Daisy), shot another guys(there with his 9 yr old boy) Marlin 22 auto rifle, then my AR7, as soonas I showed him benchrest, he was hitting the target decently at 25 yds. Had him try the Beretta 22 auto pistol, and the harder kick and noise made him a bit nervous, so i didnt have him shoot that one too much. (I was standing behind him and bracing him a bit). He also got the official range tutorial on rules from one the guys and got and signed his official range card! As soon as I can get pics off my phone(data isnt working yet), I'll post! Was a fun and memorable day! He saved his target and will hang on his wall in room tonight
I'm thinking a used bolt action 22, I think he'll be ok with a std. stock, or will find one that i can swap stocks on.